Community Solutions is a comprehensive human services agency that has served South Santa Clara County, California, and the surrounding areas since 1972. See the Community Solutions website for a list of services and programs which includes child abuse prevention, counseling, housing, and a drop-in teen shelter.

There is a 24 hour crisis line (408‐683‐4118) for youth ages 10 to 17 years old who are at risk, experiencing family conflict, school related problems, truancy, homelessness, curfew, and/or behavioral problems. The regular phone numbers are (408) 779-2113 for Morgan Hill and (408) 842-7138 for Gilroy.

Juvenile Justice Resources

There are some minors who don’t break the law, but what they do makes their parents and the community worry. The law says this behavior can be considered hurtful to himself and society. These minors are called “status offenders”.

An example of a status offender is a child who:

Runs away from home

Doesn’t go to school

Is out of control, or

Breaks curfew.

Right now only a few communities have services to help parents with troubled teens. Santa Clara County is taking steps to provide more services by creating the Status Offender Services (SOS) Task Force. The Task Force is made up of different people from the community. It will make an action plan for a system of care for this county.

Here are some places to get help in Santa Clara County. There might be other places to get help, but these are well-known:

ARCC has a lot of affordable programs and services for minors and families. They help them have and keep healthy lives. It’s mostly for kids from 11-17 years old. There are ARCC services for younger children, but they have to be referred. ARCC takes in runaways. They will help them find temporary housing.

They also offer:

Youth and Family Services - Low cost counseling and support groups. For kids, teens, families and couples. In English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Family and Individual Counseling Center – Counseling for individuals, couples, families and groups. There are seminars on recent issues and therapy techniques for counselors.

School Outreach Counseling - With the Santa Clara Unified School District. Counseling for:

Depression,

Suicide,

Problems at home,

Doing badly in school,

Preventing drug abuse, and

Sexuality.

They also help new Vietnamese immigrants and their families adjust.

Runaway and Homeless Shelter – 16 beds for teens who have run away, are homeless or troubled. They can stay for a short time. For kids 11-17 years old. They have counseling to bring the family together, if possible.

Service Center for Homeless Street Youth – Help for homeless kids:

Food,

Clothes,

Counseling,

Job training,

Help finding a place to live,

Information about HIV/AIDS,

How to stay safe on the street, and

How to prevent pregnancy

Transitional Housing Program - Full services for older teens (16-20). Also help homeless teen parents and their children. And long-term shelter (up to 18 months).

Independent Living Skills Program - Training for young people in temporary housing and foster care. Teaches:

How to find a job,

How to manage a house,

People skills,

Where to find housing,

Parenting, and

How to get help in the community.

Quetzal House – Live-in program for runaway teen girls in the dependency system.

Project Safe House - Trained people answer calls 24 hours a day. They give kids who are in trouble or in danger a safe place to go.

HIV Prevention/Health Education Program – They teach young people about HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and how to prevent gang violence. And train kids of all ages to be counselors for other kids.

Project Action - A program for sexually active teens from 12 to 21 years old. They try to lower teen pregnancy and STDs. They teach teens to make smart decisions and be responsible about sex.

Teatro Familia Aztlan - Helps young people be artistic and learn acting. They put on plays and tour Bay Area schools & youth centers.

Zero Drop Out Youth Academy - For kids from 8 to 11. After-school programs to help kids do better in school. Tutors kids, has learning activities and builds self-esteem. Parents can go to meetings every month.

Juvenile Dependency Resources

Department of Family and Children's Services: Parents meet with social workers here to talk about case plans and how their case is going. See the County Dept. of Family and Children's Services website, which is part of the County Social Services Agency. Their address is: 373 W. Julian St. San Jose, CA 95110, Phone: (408) 975-5100.